Understanding upper extremity muscles: Their functions, actions, and important role in movement, strength, and coordination.

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The upper limb consists of several muscles that work together to facilitate movement and provide strength and stability. These muscles can be categorized into those of the shoulder, arm, forearm, and hand. These muscles in your upper body are what allow your arms and hands to move and do all the things you need them to, like lifting, grabbing, or even typing on a keyboard. These muscles control everything from your shoulder down to your fingers, working together to give you strength and coordination. In this blog, we’ll dive into the different muscles in the upper extremity and how each one helps you do things, whether it's a simple task like holding a cup or something more complex like throwing a ball. Whether you're interested in how your body works, recovering from an injury, or improving your workouts, understanding these muscles is key to keeping your upper body strong and moving smoothly.



1. Shoulder muscles

These muscles are responsible for moving the shoulder joint and supporting the arm.

  • Deltoid:

    • Action: Abducts the arm, flexes and medially rotates the arm (anterior part), extends and laterally rotates the arm (posterior part).

  • Supraspinatus (part of the rotator cuff):

    • Action: Abducts the arm (first 15 degrees).

  • Infraspinatus (part of the rotator cuff):

    • Action: Laterally (externally) rotates the arm.

  • Teres minor (part of the rotator cuff):

    • Action: Laterally (externally) rotates the arm.

  • Subscapularis (part of the rotator cuff):

    • Action: Medially (internally) rotates the arm.

  • Pectoralis major:

    • Action: Flexes, adducts, and medially rotates the arm.

  • Latissimus dorsi:

    • Action: Extends, adducts, and medially rotates the arm.

  • Teres major:

    • Action: Adducts, extends, and medially rotates the arm.
  • Trapezius:
    • Action: Elevates, retracts, and rotates the scapula.

  • Rhomboid major and minor:

    • Action: Retracts and elevates the scapula.

2. Arm muscles

These muscles are responsible for movements of the upper arm and elbow joint.

  • Biceps brachii:

    • Action: Flexes the elbow and supinates the forearm; helps in shoulder flexion.

  • Brachialis:

    • Action: Flexes the elbow.

  • Triceps brachii:

    • Action: Extends the elbow; long head helps in shoulder extension.

  • Brachioradialis:

    • Action: Flexes the elbow, especially when the forearm is in a neutral position.

  • Anconeus:

    • Action: Assists in elbow extension.

3. Forearm Muscles

These muscles control movements of the wrist, hand, and fingers.

  • Flexor carpi radialis:

    • Action: Flexes and abducts the wrist.

  • Flexor carpi ulnaris:

    • Action: Flexes and adducts the wrist.

  • Palmaris longus:

    • Action: Flexes the wrist (weakly).

  • Flexor digitorum superficialis:

    • Action: Flexes the middle phalanges of the fingers.

  • Flexor digitorum profundus:

    • Action: Flexes the distal phalanges of the fingers.

  • Extensor carpi radialis longus:

    • Action: Extends and abducts the wrist.

  • Extensor carpi radialis brevis:

    • Action: Extends and abducts the wrist.

  • Extensor carpi ulnaris:

    • Action: Extends and adducts the wrist.

  • Extensor digitorum:

    • Action: Extends the fingers and wrist.

  • Extensor pollicis longus and brevis:

    • Action: Extends the thumb.

  • Abductor pollicis longus:

    • Action: Abducts the thumb.

4. Hand muscles

These muscles are responsible for fine motor control of the fingers and thumb.

  • Thenar group (Muscles at the base of the thumb):

    • Action: Control thumb movements, including flexion, abduction, and opposition (e.g., Opponens pollicis and Abductor pollicis brevis).

  • Hypothenar group (Muscles at the base of the little finger):

    • Action: Control movements of the little finger (e.g., Opponens digiti minimi).

  • Lumbricals:

    • Action: Flex the metacarpophalangeal joints and extend the interphalangeal joints.

  • Interossei:

    • Action: Dorsal interossei abduct the fingers, while palmar interossei adduct the fingers.

These muscles, working together, enable a wide range of complex and coordinated movements essential for daily tasks and activities.






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